Suggested Answers (The Cooking Challenge)

Suggested answers to the reading comprehension questions found in the previous post.

1.    Give an example of a `palatable dish' that originated from `bland ingredients'.

An example would be fried egg.  The addition of onions, chillies to raw egg fried in oil makes the resultant dish tastier than the individual ingredients on their own.

2.    Which original phrase inspired the phrase `cross kitchen knives and ladles'?

The phrase is `cross swords'.

3.    What do you think happened when the writer had those `yuck moments'?

The dishes were failures in that these dishes didn't taste good.

4.    What does the writer mean by saying that `cooking is a science'?

There is a logical method to cooking. In other words, in order to achieve a good dish, only appropriate ingredients or ingredients that complement one another should be included.

5.    What would be the taste of the drink before honey was added to it? Was the addition of the honey successful in making it taste better? Give a reason for your answer.

It would taste very sour or bitter. No, since we are told that the attempt was unsuccessful.

6.    What is the meaning of chagrin?

It means disappointment or exasperation.

7.    Name the `staple vegetables'. Why do you think the writer refers to these vegetables as `staple'

The staple vegetables are tomatoes and carrots. These vegetables are regularly featured or used in the writer's cooking.

8.    What does `bid adieu' mean?

It means to say goodbye, in other words, to leave the pan.

9.    Why would the writer think that the eggs are ready to be removed?

The protruding white substance would indicate that the egg white is cooked since it has turned from liquid to solid. Hence, the writer would think that whole egg white and yolk inside each of the eggs would be cooked.

10.              In what way or ways is the `base' important?

The `base' was enough to make the dish tasty even though the main ingredient, the eggs, were not well-cooked.